The U.S. Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development are joining forces to award up to $75 million in funding – $35 million in TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) II Planning Grants and $40 million in Sustainable Community Challenge Grants for localized planning activities that ultimately lead to projects that integrate transportation, housing and economic development.
This groundbreaking collaborative effort is designed to help foster planning for more livable, sustainable communities – places where transportation, housing and commercial development investments are coordinated to better serve the people living in those communities.
I've mentioned in several posts this year that changes were coming in the way the federal government distributes funding to local communities. It began last year with the formation of the Sustainable Communities Partnership between USDOT, HUD and EPA. This funding announcement is further proof of the new directions being undertaken and is in line with the League's own place-based principles found in our Center for 21st Century Communities Program.
State and local governments, including U.S. territories, tribal governments, transit agencies, port authorities and others, are eligible to apply for funding. Pre-applications are due 30 days from the publication of the Notice of Funding Availability in the Federal Register. Full applications are due on August 23.
For more information on how to apply, please review the notice of funding availability (NOFA) go to: http://www.dot.gov/livability/source/FINAL%20Joint%20Planning%20NOFA%20061810.pdf
Arnold Weinfeld covers federal issues for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at 517-908-0304 or by e-mail.
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